earlybird Jewelers: October 2009

Friday, October 30, 2009

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tea Time

I know I will get absolutely nothing done this weekend... so I'm posting early! Happy Halloween! ~Savanna Leigh

Designing Objects for Fun and Pleasure:

I've always been a big fan of product design- I RSS NotCot.org and ItsNiceThat.com along with a few others. I was really glad to read about "timelessness," how an object can remain interesting and relevant as trends and tastes change. I always thought that simplicity was timeless, but now I must say I agree with Norman. Objects that are subtly compelling remain interesting as time wears on; "the object must by rich and complex, one that gives rise to a never-ending interplay among the elements." Norman also mentions an important factor that is often overlooked in design and marketing (or at least that I haven't considered before), "the viewer must be able to take the time to study, analyze, and consider" the object in question. It's easy to make a bottle opener that is simply functional. I have a little bottle opener in my kitchen that looks like a character with a wide open mouth. His teeth pop off the bottle caps. My guests always play with it for a while before discovering its purpose. That discovery is what makes it interesting, and according to Norman, its that discovery which will keep it interesting for a long time.

Tea infusers

"Designing Objects for Fun and Pleasure"

The idea of incorporating fun and pleasure with functional objects and designs is one that I will carry with me in my future designs. Reading the reactions of people to fun and pleasurably designs shows the importance of putting as much thought as possible into design. The reading illustrates that the most successful designs are those that entice and intrigue the reader over a prolonged period of time. Thus, the article posed a challenge for me as the reader and as a designer, which is to create designs that will never bore the potential consumer. My perception of a successful design was altered as a result of the reading. Now when I consider the success of a design I will ask myself 'is this the kind of piece that will command its audiences attention, and create new meaning for the viewer over a prolonged period of time? Or is this the kind of design that will become as trite and boring as yesterday's new? ' We are coming into a new era of design one in which functionality, complexity, technology and art will go hand in hand. It will be interesting to see the pleasures future designs will bring.